Meter.



PATENTBD MAY 26, 1908. E. BK. METER. APPLICATION FILED JULY s. 1006.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

E. BK. METER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1906.

a xi]; v l

s SHEETSSHEET 2.

PATENTED MAY26, 1908.

E. BK. METEE.

N EILEJJ JULY 8. 1808.

APPLIOA T10 8 SHEETB-BHEET s.

anwwto z omwi a:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE; EMIL EK, or ronrLAun, MAINE, ASSIGNOR or oNE-HALr TO s. ADYOLF ADDE, 0F PoRTLA n,

- MAINE.

METER.

Y i No. 888,599.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 3, 1906. Serial No. 324,577.

- Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in measuring 'machines or meters and more specifically to meters designedfor measuring lumber and is of the same general type as that disclosed in my prior patent, No. 766,942, granted August 9,- 1904. 1

The object of the present invention is the provision of improve actuating and transfer mechanisms for the registering wheels.

A further object of the invention is the rovision of means for yieldingly holding the riction wheel of the meter in engagement with the article to be measured.

' A further object of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism for setting the registering wheels to zero.

A still further object of the inventionis the provision of an attachment for the meter whereby it can be adapted for measuring either according to the linear or metric systems. 3o

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter, when read in connection with the ac:

companying drawings forming part hereof,- and wherein like numerals of reference refer nal vertical section,- parts being broken away; t e

Fig.5 is a transverse sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow, parts being broken away; Fig. 6,

j is a view similar to Fig. 5,- on'the line 66 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the casing showing another embodiment of the invention which includes adifferent form" 5 of pawl or stop pin for reve'nting movement of the registering whee s untilpro erly actu- 'ated;.Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detai view, and

Figs. 11 and 12 fragmentary views showing the attachment for adapting the meter to the metric system.

Referrin drawings, designates a supporting bed or table, to which is rigidly secured in any suitable manner the bracket B, which, as 'in my former patent is provided with a plurality of bearings B, each having a bindin screw-arranged to impinge-upon a stub s aft C, to

secure said shaft at one end in either of the Patented Mai 26, 1e08,-

now more specifically to the} bearings B according to the thi'cknesss of the'work to be operated npon.

. D designates a substantially U-shaped' member, the outer extremities of the arms of which are provided with collars d, which embrace the shaft 0 and-are ada ted to be clam ed thereto by means of bin ing screws d. pon the shaft 0 intermediate the arms of the U-shaped member D is sleeved an arm E so as to swin freely thereupon, the free end of said arm eing connected in an suitable manner to the rear of the casing .of the meter propen F designates a curved upwardly extending pin, which is secured to the intermediate ortion of-the U-shaped member D and w ch passes through an aperture 2 in the ortion' of the arm E overlying. said ,U-shape member. Loosely mounted on the projecting portion ofsthe pin F are a pair of oppositely disposed conical washers f, between which is interposed a-s ring f, said spring being maintained un er tension by means of athumbnutf which is'threaded on the upper extremity of the pin F and which bears against the up er washer f. From this description it W11 be apparent that the spring F will yieldably ho d the friction wheel of the meter in engagement with the article to be ad usted'.to any desired position on the I shaft 0-.

The side walls of the casing are provided.

with oppositely disposed alined bearingsh, in one of which is rigidly secured a thrust pin H" the ends of which pppljectbeyond the wall of the casing and the i er end of which is lg'ovided with a reduced portion. l

. designates ashaft one end of loosely jo'ui'naledin one of the bearingsh which i on its outer'face, in addition to the 35 L, L, one of which is and the opposite end of which is rovided with a cylindrical recess which is a apted to loosely receive the reduced end of the thrust pin H. Upon the shaft H, a plurality of 5 disks or wheels J are loosely mounted, said disks or wheels occupying parallel planes and being free to rotate u on the said shaft H in one direction, but limited in their movement thereon'in the opposite direction by spring pressed pawl J, ada ted to engage a lon itudinally disposed ri or shoulder 72/ in t e surface of the shaft. Each of the wheels or disks carries u on its periphery indicating characters, preerably numerals, from 0 i to 9, so disposed relative to the figures of the adjoining disks and the actuating mechanism that the numerals of two or more ad jacent disks may be co-locatedto form any totals involving units, tens, hundreds,- etc., according to the number of wheels employed. ()n 'the corresponding face of each wheel or disk is secured a gear wheel is having tenteeth, or the-same number of teeth as there are characters on the wheels or disks. On the opposite faces of the wheels or'disks J are secured disks k, which are provided with a single toothsimilar in size and configuration to the teeth of the gearwheel 7c. The units wheel of the meter is provided ear wheel is with a ratchet wheel K, which is also provided with ten teeth. Secured on the shaft H between the outermost wheels or disks J and the bearings h are two sleeves rovided with an inwardly extending notc Z, for a purpose. to

, behereinafter more particularly set forth] M designates the operating shaft of the device, which is journaled insuitable bear:

40 ings m in the side walls of the casing'G, di rectly under the 'shaft H, Loosely mounted on the shaft M are a plurality 'of gear wheels N, each of which is provided with ten teeth. The gear wheels N which are suitably spaced on the shaft M by hub like ortions n secured, thereto, project into t e spaces b'etween the disks or wheels J and mesh with the gear wheels is securedthereto. The gear wheels N are made somewhat wider than the 5 gear wheels 7c so that they may be periodic ally engaged by the single teeth is, which are secured on the opposite faces of the disks or wheel's. One end of the operating shaft M projects through and beyondthe boss m formed integral with the casing. I

O designates a wheel guard which is pro vided with suitable apertures in the sides I thereof, which are designed to snugly engage the boss m and the projecting end of the thrust in H. Asingle screwic serves to secure the wheel guard to the end wall of thev casing since the wheel guardis held against movement by reason of its engagement with the-boss mf and'the projectin end of. the 5 thrust pin Hf. AfIZlGtiOIl whee O is rigidly M isactuated. A spring 9 serves to nor- N, and conseggently of the registering wheels form the casing G is provided with a plusecured to the projecting portion of the oper-. ating shaft M. The forward portion of the wheel guard is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined front wall 0, the lower end of which extends into roximity to the lower )ortion of the erip hery. of the friction w eel 0. By t is construction when a piece of lumber is introduced under the meter'the front end thereof will first contact with the inclined front wall 0 of the wheel guard and raise the meter a sufficient amount to permit the friction wheel 0 to easily ride upon the end thereof, thereby overcoming any tendency to cause the bending or breaking of the actuating shaft by forcing the end of the lumber directly in engagement with the frictionwheel.

P designates a collar, which is rigidly secured in any" suitable manner to the operating shaft M, within the casing and which 35 has formed integral therewith an eccentric P. Movement is imparted to the registering wheels from the actuating shaft by means of an arm Q, the rear endof which is provided with a circular aperture 9, adapted to loosely fit over the eccentric P, and the forward end of which is provided with an elongatedslot', which is adapted to loosely embrace the ortion of the shaft H between the ratchet w eel K-and the inner end of one of the sleeves L. Pivotally secured to one side of the lever Q is a pawl g3, which is adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel K, secured to the units wheel, when the shaft mally hold the saidpawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Adjustably secured through the 'medium of slot and screw connections r to the inner side of the rear of the casing is a piece of spring metal R, whichis provided" at its lower edge with a plurality of fingers r integrally formed there- 1 -with, which project beneath the gear wheels N on the shaft Mand terminate in upwardly' bent inverted V-shaped portions 1" which normally engage the teeth of said gear wheels. It will be apparent that the up w'ardly bent portions 1" of the fingers R-will normally prevent rotation of the gear wheels or disks J w ch are geared therewith, but will, owing tqtheir V-shape permit said gears to rotate one stepat a time when the machine is in operation and will also permit said gear Wheels to rotate rearwardly when it is desired to set the registering wheels to zero. Instead of the spring fingers r, referred to above, I may employ the construction illus trated in Fig. 6, of the drawings. In this rality of sockets s, which directly underlie the gear wheels N and slidably secured in said sockets are a plurality of pawls or sto pins, the upper ends of hich are of inverte V-shape, and which are normally held in engagement with the teeth of the gearwheels by coiled springs s, which are secured within the sockets and the ends of which bear -ing the number 10.

against the bottom of said sockets and abutments or shoulders formed on the pawls. The front pqrtion of the casing G is provided with a covering 1pllate G, in which is a sight 0 ening, throug which the characters on t e'reglstering wheels may be observed.

The operation of 'my machine as thus far .wheel secured to the units wheel and move the sameone ste On the tenth revolution of the friction w eel the units wheel will be moved one step to cause the character zero.

to appear through the sight opening g of the casing and the single tooth of the disk K,

which is secured on the opposite side of the units Wheel, will simultaneously engage one of the gear wheels N and move the same a distance equal to one. tooth, and as the tens wheel is geared to said gear wheel, it will also be moved one step to present its character 1 in longitudinal alinement with the char-.

acter 0 of the units wheel, thereby form- It-will be observed that the tens wheel will not be moved again until the units wheel has been actuated ten times, when it will again be shifted one step to form the numeral 20 The pro essive operation of the third or hundreds a'nr fourth or tens-of-hundreds wheels, and so on, ac-

cording to the number of wheels-employed,

is the same as that just described in relation to the units and tens wheels.

I will now proceed to describe tl1e mechanism employed for resetting the register wheels or disks to zero. One end of the shaft H is rovided with a longitudinally dis osed c indrical recess therein, h, and

wit an eongated slot 71. in the exterior thereof, which communicates with said cylindrical recess. The end of said shaft H is also providedwith a pair of lugs k for a purpose to be-more fully hereinafter setforth.

designates a rod fitting loosely in the cylindrical opening in the end of the shaft H and projecting beyond the end thereof. The

rod T is provided with a laterally projecting pin or fin er t, which projects. throu h the slot hiin t e shaft H and is normally eld in engagement with a notch h formed in the inner face of the hearing it means of a spring T, which is interpose between the end of. the pin 'T and the base of the cylinbe noted that the locking mechanism is wholly concealed within the casing and that particular form of key (to be described. 1

During the operation of the 'machine the indicator wheels'J rotate freely on the shaft H in the direction of the arrow, saidshaft being held a a'inst rotation as. hereinbefore set forth. dicating wheelsto zero a key U is used, said key being provided with a cylindrical recess ereinafter the' shaft H. The cylin rical recess in'the key is slightly shorter than the projecting portion of the rod '1, so that when said key 1s placed in position on said rod, it is necesssary to move the same longitudinally before the notches in the endof the key can be madeto engage the lugs on the end of the rod. T causes the pin t-projecting therefrom' to leave the notch it formed in the inner face of the hearing it and to enter the inwardly extending notch 1 formed in the sleeve L. The key U is then turned to bring the longitudinal shoulder h of the shaft H into enagement with all of the pawls j of the reg- -1stering wheels J, and-a 'continued rotation simultaneously rotated and brought to the position desired, for instance, with the line of zeros opposite thesight o eningof the casing, when the key 'iswith rawn and the pin on the r0 T again movesginto the note 71/ and locks-the shaft against rotation? Ordinarily the meterisused to'measure periphery of the friction wheel-Q measures ing to the metric system and I have therefore provided an attachment for my machine for t at. urpose. To apply the attachment the whee guard O and friction Wheel 0 are meat comprises a disk V which is provided ad acent-the lower edge thereof with acir cnl'ar recess which is adapted to-fit over the when the disk is secured in position directly overlies the actuating shaft M'of the meter.

of the end .Wall of. the casing or the disk may shaft. This longitudinal movement-of the of the shaft will cause all of the wheels to be drical,reces's in the shaft H, thereby normally holding saidv shaft against rotation during the operation of the meter. :It will the same cannot be actuated exce t with the y hen it is desired to set the in-- in its end, adapted to fit'over the end of the rod T and with a pair of notches a which are adapted to engage the lu s h on the end of according to the. linear system'and hence the one foot-'aroundQ I have, however, found. that it is sometimes desirable to utilize a meter-of this character for measuring accordfirst removed from the machine. The attach-- boss m and-adjacent the center thereof with V a laterally proiecting stub shaft V which The diskV is secured to the endwall of the casing of the meter by, a suitable screw, the 7 v outer projecting end of the thrust pin H be ing'either cut off flush-with .the outer surface be provided with a suitable recess to receive the' end of the thrust pin, similar to that formed in the wheel guard, hereinbefore described.

W designates a friction wheel which is loosely mounted on the stub shaft V and is provided with an inwardly extending flange which extends into proximity to the periphery of the disk V. Projecting inwardly from the center of the frictlon wheel W is a gear wheel W which meshes with a gear wheel W which is rigidly secured to the projecting end of the actuating shaft M of the meter.

W designates a gear wheel. of the same size as the gear wheel which is secured to the disk V and meshes with the gear wheel W carried by the frictionwheel W. The

gear wheel W carries around one side thereof the indicating numerals, from 0 to 9 and-the disk V is provided with a suitable opening o therein to permit the inspection 0 said numerals. The measuring wheel W is one-half meter incircumference and the gears W and W have'twiceas many teeth 'p From this construction,

as the inion W. it will e apparent that when the attachment is em loyed the numerals of the gear W willin icate decimeters while the reg: isteringwheels T of the meter will indicate meters.

Ido not desire to limit myself to the pre,

cise form and construction shown in the drawings, as it is obvious that many minor changes might be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: Q a

1. In a device of'the character described, an indicating shaft, an actuating shaft, a

ratchet wheel secured to said indicating shaft, an arm loosely supported upon said indicating and actuating shafts, a pawl car, ried by said arm and ada ted to engage the ratchet wheel on the in icating shaft, and means for reciprocating said arm.

2. In a device of the character described, an indicating shaft, an actuating-shaft, a ratchet wheel secured to said indicating shaft, an arm loosely supported uponsaid indicating and actuating shafts, a pawl carried by said arm and ada ted to engage the ratchet-wheel on the'in icating shaft, andmeans'carried by said actuating shaft for reciprocating said arm.

3. In a device of the character described,

an indicating shaft, an actuating shaft, a

ratchet wheel secured to said indicating shaft, anarm loosely supported uponsaid indicating and actuating shafts, a pawl car ried by said arm and adapted to engage the ratchet wheel on the indicating shaft, and an eccentric carried by the actuating shaft and engaging said arm to effect 1ts reciprocation.

4. In a device of the character described,

an indicator wheel shaft, an indicator wheel loosely mounted thereon a-ratchet wheel carried by said indicator wheel, means for im-' parting a etc by step movement to said indicator wheel: including an actuating shaft, an eccentric mounted thereon, an arm loosely mounted on said eccentric and provided with an elongated slot adapted to embrace the indicator wheel shaft, and a pawl carried by said arm and adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel on the indicator wheel.

' 5. In a device of the character described,

an indicating wheel shaft, a pair of indicator wheels loosel mounted thereon and provided on then opposite faces with varying toothed portions, a ratchet wheel carried by one of said indicator wheels, an actuating shaft, a gear wheel loosely mounted thereon, said gear wheel being arranged to constantly mesh with the toothed portion on one of said indicator wheels and to periodically engage the toothed portion on the other of sald 'wheels, a reciprocatory arm loosely suplimiting their rotation thereon in the opposite direction, alock operatively associated with said shaft and adapted to engage a portion of the-casing to normally prevent rotation thereof, and a separate key for releasin said lock to permit the rotation ofsaid shaft. 7. In a device of the character described, a casing, a shaft mountedtherein, a plurality of indicator wheels loosely mounted thereon, means permitting the rotation of said wheels on said shaft in one direction and limiting their rotation thereon in the opposite direction, and a lock operatively associated with said shaft and normally engaging a ortion of the casing to prevent rotation t ereo'f, said lock be ng located Wholly within the casing.

8. In a a casing 'a shaft journaled therein, a plurality of indicator wheels loosely mounted thereon, means permitting the rotation of said wheels on said shaft in one direction and limiting their rotation thereon in the opposite direcdevice of the character described,"

tion, a lock operat ively associated with said shaft andnormally engaging a portion of the casing to prevent rotation thereof, said lock being, concealed wholly within the casing, and ase arate key for releasing said lock to permit the actuationof'said-shaft; l I 9. In a device ofthe character described,

' 'arate key for saidlock, said key bein arranged during its initial'movement to re ease the lock andsubsequently to engage a portion of the shaft to permit the rotation thereof. 10. In a device of the character described,

a casing, a shaft-mounted therein, aplurality' of indicator wheels .10 osely mounted thereon,

meanspermitting the rotation of said wheels on said'shaft in one direction and limiting their rotation thereon in the opposite direction, a lock operatively associated with said shaft and normallyengaging a portion of the casing to prevent rotation thereof, said lock being located wholly within the casing, and a separate key. for said lock, said key'being arranged during its-initial movement to release 1 the lock and subsequently to engage a portion of the shaft to permit the rotation in one end theredf a longitudinally dispose thereof.

11. In a device of the character described, a casing,a shaft journaled therein and havi recess, a plurality of indicator wheels loosely mounted thereon, means. permitting'the ro- 'finger pro ecting through said 8. 40

tation of said indicator wheels on said shaft in one direction and limiting their rotation thereon in the op osite direction, a pin slidably secured in t e recess in the end ofthe shaft and provided with a laterall extending fiaft, and a bottom oft e recess, said sprin serving to normally hold the fin er on sai pin in engagement with a notc I formed in the casin and thereby preventthe rotation of sai shaft 12. :In' a device of the character described,

, a casing, a shaft journaled therein and pro- I vided -with a longitudinally disposed recess in projecting from the end thereof, a

one end thereof and with engaging portions lurality of. indicator wheels loosely-mounts on said shaft tmeanspermitting' the rotation of said "limiting their rotation thereon in the oppo-- whee s on said shaft 1n one direction and s'ite'direction, a fin yieldably secured in the the casing to preyentrot'ation ofsaidshaft, and ake'y provided with a longitudinally disposed recess, adapted 'to,engag'e the projecting portion of thepin, and with engaging portions; adapted to interlock-with the en aging 'or tions projecting from'the end, of t esha spring interposed between the pin and the 13. In combination with ameasuring machine of the character described, a su port comprising a bracket, a shaft securedt ere on and projecting laterally therefrom, a, U- shaped member secured to said shaft and an arm pivotally secured on said shaft intermediate the arms of said U-shapedmember and carrying the machine at its free end.

- 14. In combination witha measuring'machine of the character described, a support comprising a bracket, a shaft secured thereon and projectin laterally therefrom, a sub-' stantlally U-s aped member adjustably secured. on said shaft, and an arm pivo'tally secured .on said shaft intermediate the arms of said U-shaped member and carrying the machine at its free end.

' 15. In combination with a measuring machine .ofthe character described, a support comprising a bracket, a swinging arm interposed between said bracket and machine, an

adjustable stop carried by'said support and I underlyin said arr'n,and yielda le means interpose normally forcing said arm downwardly.

between said arm and stop for I I6. In combination with a measuring machine of the character described, a support comprisin a bracket, a 'swin ing armbetween sai bracket and machine, yieldable meanscarried bythe sup ort for normally forcing said arm downwar l and means for limiting the downward movement of said arm.

17. In combination with a measuring machine of thecharacter described, a support comprisin a bracket, a 'swin ing arm between 'sai bracket and machme,.yieldable, means for normally forcing said arm downwardly, and an adjustable stop beneath said armfor limiting the downward movement thereof.

18. In combination witha measuring machine of the character described, a support comprising a bracket, a shaft secured thereon and projecting laterally therefrom, a swingingarm on said shaft carryin the machine at its free end, a stop secure to said shaft and underlying said arm, an upwardly extending pin secured to-sa'i d stop and projecting through the overlying portion of said arm, and a coil spring secured around the projecting portion of said in. v

19. In combination wit a measuring machine of the character described, a support comprising a bracket, a laterally projecting shaft secured to said bracket, a swinging arm on said shaft carrying the machine at its free end, a stop secured to said shaft and underlying'said arm, a curved pin secured to said stop; and pro'ectingthrough the overlying portion ofsai arm a pair of oppositely disposed frusto-conica washers loosely mounted on said pin, ar-coil-spring inter osed between said washers and athum nut secured on the free end of saidpin.

' Q ingjanactnating shaft, a supplemental indi .catin'g dial an-actuating wheel, and. gearing- 20. In a machine for measuring lumber,

indicating means, and interchangeable actuating instrumentalities therefor including a wheel adapted to engage the work, whereby the machine may be adapted for measuring according to varying systems of measureinent.

21 In combination with the actuating shaft of a'measuring machine, interchangeable actuating means therefor including a ment. a

casing, indicating .instrumentalities Within 22, In a machine for measuring lumber, a;

the casing, actuating means therefor includwheel ,removablysecured to the lportion'of the actuating-shaft, an an actuing an actuating shaft journaled within the casingand projecting beyond one side there of, a stub s aft-secured to the casing, a gear.

rejecting ating wheeled apted to engage thework loosely M mountedon the stub shaft and geared'to the of', a stub shaft 'removably gear wheel on the actuating shaft.

iv 23,111 a machine for measuring lumber; a casing, indicating instrumentalities within .the'casing, operating means therefor includ-. ing an actuatingshaftjournaled within'the casing and projecting beyond oneside there--' x V secured tothe' casing adj acentth'e projecting portion ofthe jactuating'shaft, a gear-wheel removahly secured to the projecting portion of the actu ating shaft, and an actuatingwheel adapted J-fto engage the work loosely mounted oh the s'tubfshaftand geared with said gear wheel. r 24.- :In" a device of the character described,

a 1c asil'ig, indicating instrumentalities Within the. Icasmg, actuating; means therefor" includbetween the actuatin wheelandthe indi .cating instrumentalities' within ithe casing.

' supplemental indicating dial.

and Fbetweenthe actuating wheel and the 25. In a device of the character described,

.a casing, indicating. instrumentalitieswithin, the casing, actuating means therefor 1nclud--v caslngand projecting beyond one side there- 4 V 27. Ini a device of thecharacter described, ;a casing, indicating mstruinentalities within to be engaged by the in presence oftwo witnesses. 1ng an actuating shaft, journaled withm'the I r and provided withqa laterallyiprpjecting "i 1-- stub shaft a geared indicating dial mounted on saidplate, a gear Wheel secured to the projecting endof theactuating shaft, and an actuating'wheel loosely mounted on the stub shaft, said actuating wheel being provided with a pinion meshing with the said gear wheel and gearedindicating dial.

26. In a device of the character destiribedf? aiic g nstrumentalities within the cas1n'g, an'd actuating mechanism there for includ n an actuating Wheel said casing ,bein pmyi ed with a portion eaten- 1mg be you said actuating wheeland ad'a' tedt be engaged by the Work when passe neat the casing, and an 'actuating'wheel for sai'l indicating instrumentalities', said casing having a ortion extending beyondfsaid actuating w eel and providedfwith' a i'earwardl inclined front wall, the lower end of whic 1' extends intoproximityt o the-lower portion of. said actuatlng whee j v 28. n a device of the char'acter described, a casing, the cas ng, anactuatm eating instrumentalitie secured to said casing an extending beyond 'sald ting wheel and adapted to zbe'engagedLbthe work when pa'ssed therebeneath; .29. In a device-of the-c aracter described, a casing, indicating-instru intalities within I the casing, an'aetuatingfl eel therefor, and a wheel guard secured o'itlie casing, said wheel guard extending, 'yond the actuating wheel and having a rear inclined front a measuring machine mounted to swing m a vertical planepsaid measuring machine inclu'din 1ndicating instrumentalities and an actuating wheel therefor, and means extending beyond said actuating wheel and adapted 'beneathq p In testimony whereofI affix my signature EMIL EK.

; Anion MATTHE S.

I orkwhen passed thereindicating ins umenta'lities within.

"ving a portion 

